W1MX is wrong. Or more accurately, they mis-interpreted the check rule.
The key is that the check is supposed to be the year FIRST LICENSED, not the
year FIRST QRV. And by that, so that we don't have someone wonder about
drivers license or some other license, we mean the year first licensed by
government authority.
W1MX was first on the air in 1909. (So was K3CR, by the way, but MIT beat
them QRV by a few months).
BUT! The US government did not start licensing stations until 1912, when
what became W1MX recevied 1XM, and what evolved into K3CR got 8XE.
Therefore, a check earlier than (19)12 is technically not possible.
So by strict interpretation of the rules, W1MX and K3CR should both be using
a check of 12 in Sweepstakes.
And as we already know, strict interpretation is not taking place, and no
one is being penalized or DQ'd or check-logged for an incorrect check. So
they're using whatever they damned well want to. But that doesn't make them
right.
73
------------Original Message------------
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2006 06:32:20 -0800
From: "Eric Hilding" <dx35@hilding.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] 4 digit CK in SS coming???
To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Cc: kc1j@arrl.org
(Re-Threaded from: Sweepstakes: Should I be penalized forgetting my license
in 2000?)
On Thu, 9 Nov 2006, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote:
> Although numerically 00 - 06 are smaller numbers than 12, they represent
the
> years 2000 - 2006; 12 represents 1912 (at least for another 6 years when
we
> finally overlap the centuries). So 12 is still the earliest check
possible,
> even if it's not the lowest number possible.
Sorry, but no! W1MX sent me a CK of 09. I think I had some other very
early-Century entries as well.
Umh, I think we have a "situation" more rapidly approaching here that may
require change to a 4 digit CK in SS.
In SS 2009 W1MX and other OT's (or OT Club Stations in this example)
licensed in 1909 will not be distinguished from new SS ops/stations that are
"first licensed" in 2009. Year after year the situation will worsen.
73...
Rick, K6VVA
c. KC1J - ARRL Contests
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